Rubén Rivera, once considered a promising prospect, toiled in the majors for parts of seven seasons without coming close to filling expectations. His prospect lustre long gone, Rivera's very career began a gradual decline to obscurity when he was released from the New York Yankees in spring 2002 after stealing and selling Derek Jeter's glove.

He is a cousin of Mariano Rivera; the two were teammates on the Yankees in 1995 and 1996. He was once traded for Hideki Irabu, who was refusing to play for the San Diego Padres, who held his major league rights. He was signed by the Yankees for $3,070. $3000 was a signing bonus and $70 was repayment for missing a day of work on a fishing boat.